Chapter 47
Chapter Forty-Seven
Marcus was loath to move. He would be content to stay just as he was with Fedra for eternity. No outside interference, no battles to fight, no enemies threatening them. It was wishful thinking, but he still allowed himself to imagine that they could have that kind of life.
Fedra sat up and framed his face in her hands. Her smile was soft, and her eyes were filled with love. “I didn’t think you’d stay.”
“From beginning to end, I’ve been drawn to you. There was no way I could leave.”
Her fingers slid into his hair and lightly scraped across his scalp. “I said a lot of horrible things before.”
He grabbed her arms and brought them in front of her. “You didna have all the information.”
“You tried to tell me, but I wouldn’t listen.”
“You were going off the facts you were given.”
She looked away. “I hurt you. I could’ve hurt the others at Iron Hall. And when I think about the dragons—”
“Shh,” he said over her. “There’s no use thinking about what you almost did. That will only lead to regret. Why do that to yourself? You didna do any of it.”
“Because you stopped me.”
He smiled as he smoothed a hand from the crown of her head down the long length of her hair, trailing around her in the water. “You can have a new life here. If you want it.”
“With you?”
The hopefulness in her voice was a punch to his gut. He had made her question the future, and he hated that. “Aye, lass. With me. If that’s what you want.”
“It is, but what about your magic?”
He gave her a soft kiss. “We’ll find a way around that once Ryder takes the X-ray and we see what we’re dealing with.”
“Sevrion messed with my DNA, though. Won’t that be a problem?”
“The Kings have dealt with all kinds of issues in the past. We’ll handle this, too.”
She leaned farther back to look at him. “The story you told me about the battle on Earth. You were involved, weren’t you?”
He dipped his chin.
“How old are you exactly?”
Marcus chuckled. “Are you sure you want the answer to that? Besides, you’re pretty old yourself.”
“My age doesn’t count. I was in stasis.”
“It counts.”
She linked her hands behind his neck, her face growing serious. “I’m still worried about you staying with me.”
“We’ll remain in the palace, if that makes you feel better.”
“It does. A bit.”
He pulled her closer. “One thing you doona know about dragons is that, once we find our mate, there’s no turning back for us.”
“Your…mate?” she asked slowly.
“I never imagined I’d find you. In fact, I was fine being alone. Even before I carried you from the pod, I felt the pull between us, but I disregarded it.”
“Then you learned why I was really here. Which put us on opposing sides.”
Marcus twisted his lips. “Aye. It didna diminish my attraction to you, however.”
“If I hadn’t asked you to stay tonight, would you have left?”
“Even if I had, I would’ve returned. I can no’ stay away from you. I’d find you anywhere.”
Her eyes filled with tears, and she hastily looked down. “When I woke and didn’t see anyone else, I thought I had been discarded again. After everything I said to you, I thought you were done with me. And I knew I deserved it.”
He put his finger under her chin and lifted her head. “I caught you after Sevrion threw you off the mountain. I would never discard you.”
“I didn’t get a good look at you in your true form. Will you show me?”
“Are you sure you want to see?”
She nodded, her gaze solemn. “I do. I want to learn everything there is about the dragons to protect them. Maybe that way I can make up for what I almost did.”
“This is a dangerous fight we’re in,” he warned.
“I was brought into it against my will. I’m not going to stand by and just watch now. I’m in it, and I’ve taken a side.”
He cupped the back of her head and gave her a long, languid kiss.
She put her hands on his chest and tore her mouth from his. “Wait,” she said breathlessly. “I’m not finished. There’s something else I need to tell you.”
He was already growing hard inside her. “Can it wait?”
“No.”
“Then say it, lass, because I’m no’ done with you tonight.”
She bit her lip and groaned when she shifted her hips. Marcus stood, the water sluicing off them loudly. He exited the tub and strode through the room to the bed before laying her down. Once more, she braced her hands on his chest. He stared down at her, waiting.
“I…I…care deeply for you,” she whispered.
He grinned as he laced his fingers with hers over her head. “I want to spend my life with you.”
She smiled. “What a coincidence. I was thinking the same thing.”
“Never hold back in telling me what’s in your heart, lass. Because I willna.”
“Deal. Now, enough talking. Kiss me,” she demanded.